What use is an F-call?
If you're into contesting, you're likely to have heard of a thing called the Super Check Partial list and if you haven't then you should.
It's a simple thing, maintained by Stu, K6TU, it contains a rolling list of the callsigns of all the stations that appeared in a minimum of 6 contest logs as a worked station over the past two years.
This means several things.
First of all, it means that you need to make contacts. Then each of your contacts needs to submit their log and it has to happen on a regular basis.
If all that works, you end up with a text file that has some 43000 callsigns in it.
This is a useful tool if you have logging software that can use the list to do partial matches on callsigns. If your callsign is only partially heard, lets say the other station only hears the LAB out of the whole call, VK6FLAB, it might return two or three hits and that might be enough to narrow down your whole callsign.
So, instead of the backwards and forwards of exchanging letters, the other station might be able to give you a contest number in one hit.
If you're into contesting, that's a big deal.
But it's not just for contesting. If you're into DXing, it might also help you, since the Super Check Partial list is commonly used in day to day DX operation, so you might find yourself with a brand new country on your DXCC because you're actively contesting, making contacts and appearing in other people's logs.
Now for the catch.
This only works if you actually submit your log to Stu, so every time you do a contest, take an extra moment to also submit your log to the Super Check Partial robot lovingly processing your logfile via email. The address is logs@supercheckpartial.com
Stu mentions that VK and ZL are severely under represented, so put your log into the system and reap the rewards.
Super Check Partial, a free service by another volunteer radio amateur like you.
I'm Onno VK6FLAB